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Principal Ric Mellin checked out the football field after the crowds left, and discovered a bent goal post, damaged bleachers, lots of trash. Superintendent Heather Fiorentino said all the items will be fixed, replaced and cleaned, with the Romney campaign to foot the bill.

"They're paying for everything," Fiorentino told the Gradebook.

Simmering anger over the way the district handled the event, from seeking students to participate to promoting the campaign event on school media, meanwhile could lead to official complaints. The United School Employees of Pasco, which organized a counter-rally on Saturday, has requested several public records including correspondence to determine if any district rules or state laws were violated in conducting the political activity on campus.

The group has consulted lawyers, president Lynne Webb said, and is looking into whether any action is warranted.

About the blog

Gradebook features education articles and insights on schools in Florida, focusing on Tampa Bay area schools. What's the latest from the Florida Department of Education? How is the FCAT being used to compare Florida schools? What's going on in Tampa Bay schools? Get an insider's view from the Times education reporting team.